Radiator-cap lock



Ocif- 8 1929; ofc. RITZ woLLl-:R 1;'7130710 RADIATOR CAP LOCK.

Filed Aug. 2," 1926,

Patented. Oct. 8, 1929 p PATENT OFFICE OLIVER C. RITZ WOLLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS RADIATOR-GAP LOCK Application led August 2, 1926.

My invention relates to radiator' cap locks and particularly to locking means for a radiator cap which is equipped with a motometer or other device of value which would be likely to be stolen if not securely anchored by some means in place. It is the obJect of my invention to provide an-improved form of locking means which will interfere as little as possible with the easy removal of the 1c cap for the operation of filling the radiator,

which can be very readily rand quickly attached to any ordinary form or size of radiator, which will resist very strongly any effort to carry the cap away, which will be particularly adapted to constructions where` in the'space between the lower end of the radiator sleeve or neck and the tubes through which the water circulates is quite limited, and which can be very easily made at a moderate cost of manufacture.

It is one. of the objects `of my invention to improve devices of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the drawing and are hereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to be new and desire to cover by this application is set forth in the claims.

` In the drawing,-

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section through a portion of the radiator equipped with my improved locking means for holding in position a cap provided with a motometer.

5 Fig. 2 is a central sectional view through the securing means shown in Fig. 1, certain parts being broken away for clearness of illustration.

Fig. 3 is a view of the device as seen from the right in Fig. 2.

Fig. f1 is a view similar to the bottom portion of Fig. 2 but showing a changed position of certain of the parts.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to the lower end portion of Fig. 2 but showing a modified form of construction; and

Fig. 6 is another view of the same type showing a third form of construction.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same ref- Serial No. 126,386.

equipped with a motometer 15 of any. suitable type is ladapted to be secured by means of screw threads upon the upper endv portion of the nipple 11 in the ordinary manner, the cap 14 and the motometer 15 being secured together by means of a downwardly extending sleeve 16, the arrangement being such that the motometer is irremovably secured to the cap 14.

As is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the sleeve 16 is provided at its lower end with an inwardly extending flange 17. Secured in the lower end of the sleeve 16 so as to be rotatable with respect thereto, there is a link 18 formed by bending ya bar of metal backwardly upon itself in the form of a. loop and having outwardly extending end portions 19 at its upper end which engage the upper face of the flange 17 so as to prevent withdrawal of the link 18 from the sleeve 16. The looped end of the link 18 extends about a cross barv 2O which is secured by means of rivets betweenthe end portions of a plate bent backwardly upon itself to form a link 21, suchv link being provided at its lower end with a sleeve 22 transversely thereof formed by the looped portion of the plate. As is best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the central portion of the plate forming the link 21 is removed so as to provide spaced arms between which the klink 18 is free to move for permitting the desired loose engagement between the links 18 and 21.

Within the sleeve 22, Ihave'mounted a lug which in the construction shown is formed of three sections 23 secured together by means of screw threads, the innermost lug being secured rigidly within the end of the sleeve 22 in any suitable manner. In the other end of the sleeve 22, I have provided a lug in the form of a plunger comprising a section 24 and a shorter section 25 removably secured thereto by means of screw threads. The plunger section 24 is slidably mounted within the sleeve 22, being' held from removal by means oit a collar 26 secured in the end of the sleeve 22. A coiled spring 27 interposed between the lug 23 and the plunger 24 serves normally to hold the plunger 24 in extended position as shown in Fig. 2.

In the inner tace of the innermost lug section 23 l have provided a socket for the reception of the head of a pin 28 which is adapted normally by engagement with the inner tace of the plunger' 24 to hold the plunger in elttended position. W hen it is desired to retract the plunger 24 into the position as shown in Fig. 4, this can be accomplished by turning the sleeve 22 into vertical position with the head of the pin 28vdisposed upwardly, the arrangement being such that the pin 28 is held by gravity in substantially vertical position so as to be centered for permitting the pin 28 to enter a centrally disposed opening 29 in the plunger sect-ion 24. When the pin 28 has been caused to enter the opening 29, the device as a whole can, or" course, be turned to any `desired position 'tor i'nanipuiatl in any desired manner. When, however, the plunger 24 is released so as to permit the spring 2'? to cause the plunger to expand, at the end of the outward movement of the plunger the pin 28 is caused to move out of alignment with the opening 29 so as to prevent subsequent retraction of the plunger until the sleeve 22 is again turned into vertical position for centering the pin.

When it is desired to attach a motometer or other device mounted upon the cap 14 so as to prevent removal of the motometer from a radiator, the link 21 is manipulated in the manner above described for bringing the pin 28 into engagement with the opening 29. The link 21 and its securing means is then insert-ed into the upper end of the neck of the radiator comprising the nipple 11 and the sleeve 12. The arrangement is designed to be such that with the plunger 24 retracted the lug 23 and the plunger are barely capable of entrance within the smallest portion of the neck of the radiator. rlhis result is accomplished by the use of a variable number ot sections for the lug 23 or for the plunger, the arrangement being such that any desirable number of extensions may be employed. As the link 21 is thus inserted through the neck of the radiator, the plunger is adapted to expand immediately in a transverse direction as soon as the lower end ofthe link 24 is Lnoved downwardly sufficiently to clear the lower end portion of the neck. The lug and the plunger thereupon serve by engage-- ment with the lower end of the neck to prevent any retractive movement of the link 2l.' with respect to the neck of the radiator. lt

is evident of course that if the link 21 is lowered after the expansion of the plunger 24 so as to carry the lug 23 and the plunger out of engagement with the lower endof the neck of the radiator, in such case the link 21 is capable oi retraction thereafter to the point where the lug and the plunger are brought into engagement with the end of the neck, but such retractive movement does not extend beyond the point at which the engagement of the plunger with the lower end ot the neck of the radiatoroccurred.

By the use of the pin 28, when the plunger 24 has expanded into engaging position as shown in Fig. 1, the plunger is held positively against retraction in the sleeve so that it is impossible to eiect a release of the securing device so long as the radiator is keptin its normal upright position.

1n the form of device as shown in Fig. 5, the lug 23 is dispensed with, and the locking pin 28 is omitted. In this construction, one end ot the sleeve 22 is closed by a head 30 against which a spring 31 bears for pressing a plunger 32 outwardly for securing the device in position, the plunger 32 being held from removal by means of a collar 33. The device as shown in Fig. 5 would be elective for the particular radiator for which it is designed.

inthe construction shown in Fig. 6, plungers 34 and 35 are mounted in opposite ends of the sleeve 22 being held in position by means of collars 36. rIhe plungers 34 and 35 are preferably formed of sheet metal being held normally in extended position with respect to each other by means of an interposed spring 37. l

ln many devices ci' this type itis essential that the means connecting the anchor to the cap be of such length that the cap, when uuscrewed, will nevertheless be held partly over the neck oit the radiator and thus offer maximum interference to the insertion ot tools or instruments 'i'or rendering the anchor inoperative. ln order to have the connecting means betweenthe anchor and the cap of the shortest possible length in such devices, it is necessary lirst to insert the anchor into operative position while free of the cap, then hold the connecting means by a string or wire and iinally secure the cap to the connecting means. ln view of the positive manner in which the plunger 24 is locked against inward movement in my device, it is impossible to manipulate the anchor so as to render it inoperative. The anchor and cap may be secured together while the parts arefree of the radiator, which is an advantage, and the connecting means between the cap and anchor may be of suficient length to permit the cap to tilt 'yell to one side so it will be out of the way when filling the radiator. ln view of the direct transverse movement of the plunger 24, the anchor may easily be lll() lextend quite close to the lower end ot the radiator neck.

lVhile I preier to employ one of the constructions as shown in my drawing and as above described, it will be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the details as shown except so far as certain ot the claims are specifically so limited, since it is evident thatchanges may well be made in the form of the device without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. The coinbinat-ioii of a radiator cap, a flexible connector attached at one end to said cap, lug means formed in sections detachably connected together and projecting laterally from the opposite end portion of said connector so as to be capable off adjustment in length, and other means adjacent to said lug means adapted upon passagev through the neck portion of a radiator automatically to expand into engagement with the lower end of the neck portion and adapted in cooperation with said lug means to prevent any retractive movement oi: the connector beyond that at which said engagement occurs.

2. The combination of a. radiator cap, a flexible connector attached at one end to said cap, lug means projecting laterally from the opposite end portion of said connector, and other means formed in sections 'detachably connected together adjacent to said lug means so as to be adjustable in length `adapted upon passage through the neck portion oi'l a radiator automatically to expand into engagement with the lower end of the neck portion and adapted in cooperation with said lug means to prevent any retractive movement of the connector beyond that at which said engagement occurs.

Y 3. The combination of a radiator cap, a flexible connector attached at one end to said cap, lug means formed in sections detachabrly connected togetherv and projecting laterally from the opposite end portion ot said connector so as to be capable of adjustsaid link and said cap, a sleeve extending transversely' of said link, a plunO'er slidably.

mounted in said sleeve, a spring in said sleeve adapted normally to hold said plunger in extended position, said link and plunger being adapted to pass through the neck portion of a radiator when the plunger is reF tracted against the action of the spring and said plunger being adapted to prevent withdrawal oit' the link when it is moved by the spring into extended position, and means in said sleeve adapted by a changed position therein when the plunger is moved to extended position to prevent subsequent retraction ot' the plunger.v

5. lhe combination of a radiator' cap, a link, a flexible jointed connection between said link and said cap, a sleeve extending transversely of said link, a plunger slidably mounted in said sleeve, a spring in said sleeve adapted normally to hold said plunger in extended position, said link and plunger being adapted to pass through the neck portion ot' a radiator when the plunger is retracted against the action ot the spring and said plunger being adapted to prevent withdrawal of the link when it is moved by the spring into extended position, and a pin in saidy sleeve adapted when in engagement with a longitudinal opening in the plunger to permittlie retraction ont the plunger but adapted when out ot' engagement with said opening to prevent retraction ot' the plunger. f

6. The combination of a radiator vcap,a

link, a flexible jointed connection between drawal oit the link when it is `moved by the' spring into extended position, and a pin having an enlarged head positioned in said sleeve adapted when iii engagement with a longitudinal opening in the plunger to permit the retraction ot the plunger but adapted when out ot engagement with said opening to prevent retraction ot the plunger, said pin being adapted normally to move out of engagement with the opening when the plunger is extended to the limit of its movement and being capable of being brought again into engagement with the opening by the force ot' gravity when the pin and plunger are turned into substantially vertical position.

7. rlhe combination of a radiator cap, a link, means for flexibly connecting one end portion oil said link with said cap, a plunger, means tor mounting said plunger slidably in positiontransversely of the link at its 0pposite end portion and serving to hold the plunger in tixed angular position with respect to the link and yielding means normally holding said plunger in position extended transversely ot the link beyond the edge thereoin whereby the link when inserted into the neck of a radiator is held against removal therefrom.

8. The combination of a radiator cap, a

link, means for flexibly connecting one end portion of said link with said cap, a plunger, means for mounting said plunger slidably in position transversely of the link at its opposite end portion, yielding means normally holding said plunger in position extended transversely of the link beyond the edge thereof whereby the link when inserted into the neck of a radiator is held against withdrawal therefrom, and a latch device mounted movably in position in the path of movement of the plunger adapted upon the extension of the plunger to move into position behind a part of the plunger for preventing retraction of the plunger.

9. The combination of a radiator cap, a link, means for flexiblyiconnecting one end portion of said link with said cap, a sleeve mounted in transverse position on said link at its opposite end portion and held against movement angularly with respect to the link, a plunger slidably mounted in said sleeve, and yielding means normally holding said plunger in laterally extended position in said sleeve with respect to said link whereby the link when inserted into the neck of a radiator is held against withdrawal therefrom.

10. The combination of a. radiator cap, securing means flexibly connected therewith, comprising two parts connected together and slidable longitudinally with respect to each other, yielding means serving normally to hold onevof said parts in extended position with respect to the other, and latch means adapted upon the extension of said part to move into position to prevent retraction thereof. l

OLIVER C. RITZ WOLLER. 

